Darius’ Workbench

[Darius43]

Dunprimin…

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

Dunpaintin…

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

“Sputnik” gangway door scratch built using plasticard and The Worsley Works etched door frame.

Cheers

Darius

Edited December 6, 2022 by Darius43

[Darius43]

More progress on MPD No.65 - chassis completed and glazing fitted.

Cheers

Darius

[Robert Shrives]

Just a line and a few numbers to do, makes my wagons look lame. Look forward to see it making its way on the layout.

Robert 

[leslie10646]

Those railcars look great, Darius. Pleased that you done a set in the original green / cream livery which is how I remember them.

Like Robert, I look forward to seeing them in action.

Can't resist a snide remark - the "real things" were sufficiently unreliable to ensure that I enjoyed many speedy runs on the Larne Line in the mid-sixties behind the WTs driven by some really great enginemen.

Edited December 15, 2022 by leslie10646

[Darius43]

Hi Robert,

Also plan to install the interior seating, water tank filler pipes, headlamps, and buffer beam details (including those red box things with the plugs).

Then complete the trio with No.64 in UTA Brunswick Green.

Cheers

Darius

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by Darius43

[Lambeg man]

33 minutes ago, Darius43 said:

Then complete the trio with No.64 in UTA Brunswick Green.

Photo (very poor quality I know) of No. 63 when brand new - UTA Official

 

[Darius43]

Thanks Lambeg man.  There’s also a colour photo of No.64 in this livery on page 47 of The Ulster Transport Authority in colour.

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

MPD No.65 completed.

Cheers

Darius

[airfixfan]

Very good just minus the minor bodywork dents these units always seemed to have acquired!

[Flying Snail]

these look excellent

[Darius43]

This is a model of my Grandparents’ bungalow in Seaford, East Sussex* that I made in the early 1980s - over 40 years ago.  I scratch built it using 1mm plywood, Perspex sheet, cardboard, paint and sawdust.

Time has not been good to it so my latest project is to repair and refurbish it.  Sone parts are missing so these will need to be rebuilt.

Cheers

Darius
 

* Not to be confused with Seaforde Co. Down.

Edited January 19, 2023 by Darius43

[Darius43]

Initial repairs completed.

Some bits are missing so will need to be re-done.

Cheers

Darius

Edited January 19, 2023 by Darius43

[JasonB]

On 19/1/2023 at 11:01 AM, Darius43 said:

This is a model of my Grandparents’ bungalow in Seaford, East Sussex* that I made in the early 1980s - over 40 years ago.  I scratch built it using 1mm plywood, Perspex sheet, cardboard, paint and sawdust.

Lovely little project, not just from a modelling point of view. I'm sure it will look as good as new, after you work your magic on it. 

[Darius43]

3D printed JGA wagon kit from 3DWagonWorks via eBay.

I added some details using brass wire, tube and electrical wire.

These are very nice kits with excellent detail.  The material is easy to work with.

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

One completed - a few more to go…

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

Found some photos that I took when the bungalow model was first completed.  These will come in useful for the refurb.

 

Also some pics of a model that I made of our family home in Belfast a year or so after I made the bungalow model.

Cheers

Darius

Edited January 24, 2023 by Darius43

[Broithe]

'Personal' buildings can be a very attractive proposition.

I did a layout for a housebound chap years ago and the Scenecraft bungalow was remarkably similar to his own place - so we attached a car port to make it more obvious and we also established a rule that he was required to put the bins out on the layout on the appropriate days.

[Darius43]

Can anyone identify where in Belfast our house was?

Cheers

Darius

PS it’s still there…

[Darius43]

Restoration completed.

Cheers

Darius

[Galteemore]

Fantastic. Where’s the Belfast house? I’m getting an upper Antrim Road or upper Newtownards Road look but can’t guess exactly. I could be completely wrong and it’s Malone! 

[Darius43]

You are exceedingly warm with upper Antrim Road…

Cheers

Darius

[Galteemore]

Thought so. I went to school at Belfast Royal Academy  so used to pass lots of houses like that round the N Circular Road…….

[Darius43]

I also went to Belfast Royal Academy - was there from 1978 to 1983.    Used to get the No. 3, 5 or 45 bus down the Antrim Road.  Coming home we could also get the No. 2 or 6 if we spotted them at the top of Duncairn Gardens and ran fast enough…

Cheers

Darius

[Galteemore]

Lol - I was there 83-89! Wasn’t buses for me though - I got to commute by 70 and 80 class….I well remember the n Belfast roads though from games buses to the fields at Ben Madigan 

[Darius43]

We just missed each other.  I never played sports at Ben Madigan - we were bussed to the playing fields at Roughfort to play hockey.  Shorty Long was the coach.

Cheers

Darius

[Darius43]

A few years ago I modified a series of Hornby BR Freightliner FFA and FGA flat wagons and containers - improving the bogies and underframe details and adding new Hunt magnetic couplings.  So far I have modified 15 wagons.

Last week we tried running a 10 wagon formation on the “new” continuous loop on the shed layout.  Even with new metal wheels and brass bearings the train is still draggy such that the magnetic force of the couplers is overcome and they separate - at about half train length.

To solve this I am replacing the Hunt couplings with fixed bar couplings made from black plasticard.

Cheers

Darius

Edited February 7, 2023 by Darius43

[Blaine]

Been proven repeatedly now that hunt couplings are not the greatest thing ever, the ones I got for my Dapol JHA's were not great quality - at least they are cheap for what they are

[GSR 800]

23 minutes ago, Blaine said:

Been proven repeatedly now that hunt couplings are not the greatest thing ever, the ones I got for my Dapol JHA's were not great quality - at least they are cheap for what they are

I wonder how IRMs magnetic types will hold up in the longterm..

[Darius43]

The main problem I have experienced with Hunt Couplings is that they are made from a very brittle and inflexible plastic.  They are easy to snap when very little force is applied - especially the NEM “prongs” - which can be awkward.

That and the magnets aren’t strong enough.

Cheers

Darius

[irishmail]

On 7/2/2023 at 11:14 AM, Darius43 said:

A few years ago I modified a series of Hornby BR Freightliner FFA and FGA flat wagons and containers - improving the bogies and underframe details and adding new Hunt magnetic couplings.  So far I have modified 15 wagons.

Last week we tried running a 10 wagon formation on the “new” continuous loop on the shed layout.  Even with new metal wheels and brass bearings the train is still draggy such that the magnetic force of the couplers is overcome and they separate - at about half train length.

To solve this I am replacing the Hunt couplings with fixed bar couplings made from black plasticard.

Cheers

Darius

Nothing wrong with the fixed bar.  That's how the real freightliner flats were originally coupled in rakes of five.  Nice work there on them old liners.

[Darius43]

1:48 scale Vulcan B2 brought down from atop the wardrobe for a thorough dusting and some repairs.

Aeroclub vacform and mixed media kit built nearly 30 years ago.

Cheers

Darius

[Galteemore]

Wonderful. Incredible aircraft. Was lucky enough to see one in flight. The Vulcan scenes in Thunderball are still worth watching. 

[Darius43]

I remember seeing them flying out of RAF Valley in the 1970s - family holidays in Anglesey.  Also saw the restored one flying at airshows before it was finally grounded.

Cheers

Darius